ТОР 5 статей:
Методические подходы к анализу финансового состояния предприятия
Проблема периодизации русской литературы ХХ века. Краткая характеристика второй половины ХХ века
Характеристика шлифовальных кругов и ее маркировка
Служебные части речи. Предлог. Союз. Частицы
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NATIONAL STEREOTYPES
We are repeatedly warned to beware of generalizations yet, paradoxically, it seems that the human mind cannot resist categorizing people and things. We love to “pigeon-hole”, to make order out of a universe that frequently seems to us confusing and even chaotic. Nowhere is this tendency more evident that in our willingness to generalize about nationalities. We create national stereotypes and cling tenaciously to our prejudices. To illustrate this point, we shall take a look at the findings of a survey carried out by the market research firm, Parkland Research Europe.
This organization carried out a detailed study of European attitudes by questioning 185 business executives, lawyers, engineers, teachers and other professional people from seven European countries. It revealed many widely-held stereotypes, but also came up with a few surprises.
Parkland Findings
| Germans | Liked themselves best of all. Most Europeans agreed that the Germans had the highest proportion of good qualities. They considered themselves very tolerant, but nobody else did. They saw themselves as fashionable. Others found them “square”. |
| French | Not really admired by anyone except the Italians. Other Europeans found them conservative, withdrawn, chauvinistic, brilliant, superficial, hedonistic. Also, not very friendly. The French agreed on the last point! |
| British | Mixed reactions. Some found them calm, reserved, open-minded, trustworthy; others deemed them hidebound, insular and superior. Everyone was unanimous that the British had an excellent sense of humour. The British most admired the Dutch. |
| Swiss | Showed considerable lucidity and powers of self-analysis. Saw themselves as serious, trustworthy, but too money-minded and suspicious. Most Europeans agreed. The Swiss liked the Germans best. |
| Italians | Generally considered by everyone to be lazy and untrustworthy, and the Italians agreed! Most also found them to be vivacious, charming, hospitable and noisy. The Italians admired the French and the Dutch. Hardly anyone loved the Italians except the French. |
| Dutch | Most admired people in Europe – except by their neighbours – the Belgians. Everyone agreed that the Dutch are hard-working, thrifty, good-natured, tolerant and business-minded. The Netherlands, however, was not considered a good place to live in. |
| Belgians | Least admired in this group. They see themselves as easy-going and diligent workers. Other Europeans consider them undisciplined and narrow-minded – and lousy drivers! |
| Russians | What do foreigners say about your own national character? Fill in the table. |
2. Discuss the following questions:
1. How would you say your national character is different from that of people in the immediately neighbouring countries?
2. How do you think your character has changed or developed over the years? Are their any aspects of your personality you still don’t like?
3. Which of these traits of character do you most dislike in a partner? Why? Place them in order.
vanity hypocrisy pomposity stubbornness
obstinacy selfishness dishonesty pettiness
arrogance snobbishness timidity possessiveness
shyness meanness rashness aggressiveness
4. Which of these qualities is most important for you in a partner? Why? Place them in order of importance.
compassion vivacity frankness self-assurance
tolerance patience generosity ambition
sincerity imagination passion humility
modesty sensitivity courage creativity
5. Which personal characteristics (good and bad) that you would expect to find in these people?
1) a nurse
2) the chairman of a multinational company
3) an actor
4) a politician
5) a teacher
6) a psychologist
3. Develop the following situations making up dialogues:
1. You are writing a paper on the theme: “Major Personality Characteristics”. You
experience some hardships in your research. You come to your scientific advisor to receive some explanations. Ask him:
- if it is correct trend to divide all people into extroverts and introverts;
- what is meant by personality traits;
- what he thinks whether a personality formation is genetically predisposed;
- what role the family plays in shaping a personality;
- how a social setting influences the personality development;
- at what age the personality character is formed.
2. Your friend is sure that our mood and emotional state depend on the weather and horoscope forecasts. You are not inclined to believe in astrology but still you ask some questions on the subject.
Ask him:
- what his sign of zodiak is;
- what positive characteristics his star sign supposes;
- whom he is like in character: his mother or father;
- if he has got any negative traits;
- if he believes in horoscope forecasts partly or completely;
- what he does to match his star sign.
3. You are making up a questionnaire in order to find out basic personality
characteristics and categorize them.
Ask your respondent:
- how he feels in an unfamiliar situation;
- what helps him feel at ease;
- in what situations he feels shy and worried;
- what he considers to be the necessary qualities to feel comfortable everywhere;
- if he can describe the most pleasant situation in his life;
- what he experiences seeing beggar in the streets.
4. Your friend has just come from England. He had a chance to study there for three weeks. He spoke with a number of the British people noted for their particular features. You are eager to receive information first-hand.
Ask him:
- how he would characterize the English as a separate nation;
- if they are as reserved as they seem to be;
- what are the most distinctive features of their character;
- in what dwellings the British people live;
- why they prefer to live in cottages.
4. Translate into English:
Характер – это индивидуальное сочетание существенных свойств личности, выражающих отношение человека к действительности и проявляющихся в его поведении, в его поступках. Характер представляет собой неповторимое сочетание психологических качеств, индивидуальных особенностей личности, именно характер дает основание для суждения о том, хороший ли это человек или нет.
Слова, движения, действия, отдельные поступки и поведение в целом позволяют понять характер человека, они как бы высвечивают его внутреннее, скрытое от посторонних глаз содержание. Но, с другой стороны, каждое свойство характера приводит в определенных условиях к совершению тех или иных поступков, накладывает печать на все действия, мысли и чувства человека. Народная мудрость гласит: «Каков характер, таковы и поступки».
5. Test yourself:
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